The mission of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is to foster opportunities for businesses to grow and for communities to succeed and thrive in a global economy. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for Pennsylvania citizens while assuring transparency and accountability in the expenditure of public funds.

Hospital Emergency Loan Program (HELP)

Overview

The Hospital Emergency Loan Program (HELP) was established to provide critical working capital bridge financing to hospitals located within the Commonwealth that are adversely impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The loan funds are intended to provide a short-term financing solution for hospitals until federal grant funding through the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is received by the hospitals. The program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) through the Pennsylvania First Program (PA First).

Uses

Working capital, fixed assets, and machinery and equipment expenses directly related to COVID-19, which for the purposes of this program is considered capital used by a hospital for operations. The costs must be incurred between March 1, 2020 and September 1, 2020.

Fixed assets and machinery and equipment include, but is not limited to, hospital beds, ventilators and other medical equipment necessary to prepare for the COVID-19 surge.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants for HELP include all health care facilities licensed as hospitals pursuant to Chapter 8 of the Health Care Facilities Act of 1979 that will be eligible to receive federal grant funding through the CARES Act.

Funding

The maximum loan is $10,000,000 per hospital. No match is required. There are no job retention/creation requirements.

Terms

The interest rate is 0.5%. Loans must be repaid by September 25, 2020. Interest will accrue on the loan and be payable at the end of the term. A balloon payment of the accrued interest and principal is due by September 25, 2020, or within thirty days of the receipt of grant funds through the CARES Act, which ever date is earlier.

How To Apply

Applications will be accepted between April 13 – April 20, 2020 through DCED’s online Single Application.